Boeing wins $13.8 billion order from Singapore Airlines

Seen here in a photo from September 2013 is a shot of the first Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER to be configured with its all-new interior at the gate at Boeing's Everett Delivery Center.(Photo: Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY)

Singapore Airlines agreed to a firm order for 39 widebody jets from Boeing in a deal that would help the carrier expand and update its fleet.

The deal – for 20 Boeing 777-9s and 19 787-10 “Dreamliners" – would be valued at $13.8 billion at list prices, though big carriers typically negotiate substantial discounts on such orders.

The order is Singapore Airlines’ first for Boeing’s newest and largest 777 variant, the 777-9 that is expected to begin flying later this decade. The order for the 19 787-10 Dreamliners – also Boeing’s latest and biggest variant of that aircraft – are on top of 30 that Singapore has already made for the jet.

Singapore Airlines is regarded as one of the world’s most luxurious carriers, frequently winning accolades for its high-end service. The carrier has specialized in long-distance flying, flying many long-haul and ultra-long haul routes from its hub in Southeast Asia. The airline said the new widebody, long-haul jets would be used both for expansion and to help it replace older aircraft retiring from its fleet.

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A crowd gathers at the Boeing Delivery Center to watch the arrival of Singapore Airlines' Boeing 777-300ER on Sept. 19, 2013. The jet is Singapore Airlines' first to be configured with its all-new interior. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Airchive

Singapore Airlines - already regarded as one of the world's most luxurious airlines - is set to overhaul its aircraft cabins in a move that it says will set the new industry standard for top-end air travel. The carrier took delivery of its first plane configured with the new interior Sept. 19, 2013, showing off the Boeing 777-300ER to media at a delivery ceremony at Boeing's widebody assembly line facility in Everett, Wash. Today in the Sky editor Ben Mutzabaugh was on hand, and helped put together this photo gallery to take you along on the behind the scenes tour of Singapore Airlines' latest cabin. The jet will fly paying passengers for the first time by early October when Singapore Airlines deploys it on its Singapore-London Heathrow route. Here, Singapore Airlines' new-interior Boeing 777-300LR arrives at a boarding gate at Boeing's Everett Delivery Center north of Seattle on Sept. 19, 2013. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

A sign welcomes visitors to Boeing's Everett Delivery Center. Located next to Boeing's 747, 767, 777 and 787 assembly line facilities in Everett, Wash., it opened in April 2013 and is where airlines – or private buyers – come to take possession of their new widebody planes from the U.S. jetmaker. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Anticipation builds as Singapore Airlines' first Boeing 777-300ER to be configured with its all-new interior comes within view of spectators at the Boeing aircraft delivery center in Everett, Wash., on Sept. 19, 2013. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

A first-class seat in the first Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER to be configured with its all-new interior. This seat reclines into a full-flat bed for sleeping, as this photo shows. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Airchive

A first-class seat in the first Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER to be configured with its all-new interior. BMW subsidiary DesignworksUSA helped design the new first-class cabin. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

A first-class seat in the first Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER to be configured with its all-new interior. This shot shows the seat's in-flight entertainment, as well as the space where the foot of the bed would be when it is reclined into its full-flat position. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

A first-class seat shown in the full-flat reclined position. Charmain Kwok, Singapore Airlines' Assistant Manager – Product Innovation, says the curves around the seat's entrance are "to make the seat feel enclosed" and give a sense of isolation and privacy from the rest of the cabin. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

A shot from above of a first-class seat in Singapore Airlines' newly configured Boeing 777-300ER. This shot shows how the passenger in this seat would view the in-flight entertainment with the seat fully reclined into its flat-bed position. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

The economy seating section of Singapore Airlines' newly redesigned cabin interior has sections in two color schemes: yellow and teal (seen here) and yellow and beige (previous photo). Charmain Kwok, Singapore Airlines' Assistant Manager – Product Innovation, says the two different colors in the economy cabin are visual cues to help "break up the monotony" in the longest section of a "very long plane." Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

This shot of the economy-class section gives a sense of just how big the seat-back monitors are in this cabin. The screens, which feature touch-screen controls, measure 11.1 inches. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

This shot of the economy-class section gives a sense of just how big the seat-back monitors are in this cabin. The screens, which feature touch-screen controls, measure 11.1 inches. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines spokesman James Bradbury-Boyd explains features of the carrier's new 777-300ER cabin interior to a reporter immediately following the aircraft's delivery in Everett, Wash., on Sept. 19, 2013. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

A close-up of the light-control panel at a business-class seat on Singapore Airlines' new Boeing 777-300ERs. Options are for a typical overhead light or for a reading light located underneath the seat-back monitor. Charmain Kwok, Singapore Airlines' Assistant Manager – Product Innovation, says the latter option gives fliers a more subtle nighttime option "so you don't have to bother everybody around you." Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Seen here in a photo from September 2013 is a shot of the first Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER to be configured with its all-new interior at the gate at Boeing's Everett Delivery Center. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

The first Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER to be configured with its all-new interior is seen through glass from the inside of Boeing's Everett Delivery Center on Sept. 19, 2013. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

“Today’s major order for widebody aircraft enables us to continue operating a modern and fuel-efficient fleet, providing the SIA Group with additional expansion opportunities to ensure that we retain our industry-leading position,” Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said in a statement. “This order is also another demonstration of our commitment to further growing the Singapore hub, as we will be able to offer even more travel options for our customers.”

The aircraft detail in Thursday’s announcement will begin arriving to the carrier as early as 2020.

The Singapore order is a score for Boeing, which is battling against Airbus’ new A350 and revamped A330 in the market for widebody jets.

Bloomberg News adds more perspective, writing “the new deal would provide a critical boost to two high-profile Boeing products amid a tough market for twin-aisle jets. The Chicago-based company has been working hard to land sales of its upgraded 777X family after twice announcing it would cut output of current models. The new aircraft will replace some of Singapore Air’s aging Boeing planes such as the 777-300ER, while giving the carrier’s low-cost units rights to jets not yet on the market.”

Further, Reuters writes the Singapore deal “leaves a question mark over Airbus proposals to develop a larger 400-seat version of its A350 passenger jet to compete with the 406-seat Boeing 777-9.”

Singapore Airlines had been viewed as a potential launch customer for such an Airbus product, “but the European planemaker last year postponed a decision on whether to launch the new project amid pressure on demand for wide-body jets,” Reuters adds. “The fact Airbus was not yet ready to make a definitive offer to supply the new plane, relying instead on the 366-seat A350-1000, may have been a handicap in the contest for Singapore's business, an industry source said” in reference to Singapore’s Thursday agreement with Boeing.

Singapore has otherwise been a strong customer for Airbus' A350. It has ordered 67 of Airbus A350-900 jets, including a new "ultra long-haul" (ULR) version expected to begin flying next year. Singapore, which would be the launch customer for that variant of the A350, has said it intends to use the ULR version to resume nonstop flights between Singapore and New York, a route that would become the world's longest.

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Singapore Airlines' business-class cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

This Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 was the 10,000th aircraft to be delivered by European jetmaker Airbus. It's seen here at delivery ceremony in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' business-class cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' business-class cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' business-class cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

This Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 was the 10,000th aircraft to be delivered by European jetmaker Airbus. It's seen here at delivery ceremony in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

A bulkhead row of Singapore Airlines' premum economy cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets on Oct. 14, 2016, in Toulouse, France. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' premium economy cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' premium economy cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

This Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 was the 10,000th aircraft to be delivered by European jetmaker Airbus. It's seen here at delivery ceremony in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' economy cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' economy cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' economy cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' economy cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' economy cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' economy cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines offered a rare look at its crew rest areas onboard one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. Here, Today in the Sky editor Ben Mutzabaugh sits in the area to show the size of the space. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

This Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 was the 10,000th aircraft to be delivered by European jetmaker Airbus. It's seen here at delivery ceremony in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' business-class cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' business-class cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. The seat is recline into its lie-flat position, though the seat has not been fitted with Singapore's high-end business-class bedding in this photo. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' business-class cabin is seen on one of the carrier's Airbus A350 widebody jets in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. This particular aircraft was the 10,000th plane to roll off Airbus' assembly lines. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

This Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 was the 10,000th aircraft to be delivered by European jetmaker Airbus. It's seen here at delivery ceremony in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 14, 2016. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

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Singapore Airlines' first nonstop flight from Singapore to San Francisco lands at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016. The inaugural flight gave Singapore Airlines a nonstop route between the USA and its home country for the first time in three years. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' first nonstop flight from Singapore to San Francisco lands at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016. The inaugural flight gave Singapore Airlines a nonstop link to the U.S. from its home country for the first time in three years. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' Airbus A350 is seen at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016, after completing the carrier's first nonstop Singapore-U.S. flight in three years. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' Airbus A350 is seen at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016, after completing the carrier's first nonstop Singapore-U.S. flight in three years. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines flight attendant pose in front of a sign celebrating the carrier's new nonstop service to Singapore Changi Airport from San Francisco International Airport (Oct. 23, 2016). Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Executives and officials with Singapore Airlines and San Francisco International Airport cut a celebratory ribbon to mark the start of nonstop service between Singapore Changi and San Francisco ahead of the inaugural San Francisco departure on Oct. 23, 2016. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' Airbus A350 taxis past the San Francisco International's iconic control tower before departing on the inaugural San Francisco-Singapore flight on Oct. 23, 2016. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Passengers awaiting Singapore Airlines' first San Francisco-Singapore departure were treated to a traditional lion dance at the gate before boarding on Oct. 23, 2016. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY